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Events and Reports - Sweden Rock Festival 2004 - Day 3 (Michael) - Danger Danger, Heart & Europe
Back to Day 2
Danger Danger, Rock Stage - Saturday June 12
Because of Scorpions' disappointing set I was in no mood for an after party. So after a good night sleep I was in top form, when Danger Danger took the stage 12 o'clock in the morning. This was Danger Danger's first show with the returned lead singer Ted Poley.
To my surprise the crowd received Danger Danger very well and there was plenty of "Lets get Naughty Naughty" t-shirts. As Danger Danger's set progressed more and more people found their way from their sleeping bag and joined the Danger Danger party.
Bassist Bruno Ravel was very likable and he often addressed the audience between songs and expressed how grateful the band was. Just before Rock America Bruno said it was a song, not about America, but about the whole world uniting against the evil forces.
The songs from Danger Danger's first album used sampled keyboards live, which I thought was a shame. I never been a huge fan of the first album because of the keyboards - therefore I hoped Danger Danger stuck to the raw live sound instead of using the keyboards.
Ted Poley did a great job. A lot of times he dropped down on his knees really identifying him with the music and he put on an energetic show. Ted still sounded really good and so did the band. The guitarist was Rob Marcello and he was a brilliant guitarist. Rob Marcello managed to spice his rhythm guitar playing with plenty of neat licks and his soloing was great. Steve West and Bruno Ravel were the real McCoy's and it was a blast finally seeing them in concert.
Ted Poley is a great frontman and at the end of the set he jumped into the audience and crowd surfed, while he sang the lyrics without missing a beat. Ted Poley's stage presence was still very 80's and two times he put on a bandanna - only to wear it a few seconds and then throw it out to the audience. Another cool gimmick was drummer Steve West having a bottle of Tequila, which he and Bruno split on stage..or maybe it wasn't a gimmick.
On the first encore, the power ballad I Still Think About You Ted Poley changed the lyrics leading to the second chorus to "It's been 10 years - a lot of tears" with clear reference to Ted Poley's years apart from the band. It was clearly improvised since Bruno Ravel was one big smile and immediately gave Ted a "high five".
The show was good. The "Cockroach" material was my personal favorites with the kick ass Goin' Goin' Gone and the amazing ballad Afraid of Love as highlights. The "Screw it" songs sounded fantastic as well and my favorite Beat the Bullet was already played as second song, which got my mojo working. The performance was great, but never got over the top mainly because of Danger Danger's material. The songs from the first album just don't maintain same high standard as later Danger Danger albums. Almost half of the debut album was performed live (5 songs) and with the exception of the brilliant Naughty Naughty as show stopper, the debut songs sound a bit neutral.
Danger Danger's joy of playing left everyone with a big smile of their face supported by the band ending the show with Ted Poley screaming out to the crowd "Stay Horney!"
Boys will be Boys
Beat the Bullet
Crazy Nites
Under the Gun
Goin' Goin' Gone (Don't Walk Away was originally on the setlist, but crossed in favor of Goin' Goin' Gone)
Don't Blame it on love
Bang Bang
Afraid of Love
Good Time
Monkey Business
Rock America
I still think about you
Naughty Naughty
Heart, Sweden Stage - Saturday June 12
The treachery Scandinavian summer weather was changing between rain showers and bright sunshine, when Canadian band Heart opened their show.
The band started off with a few new tunes and the old Crazy on You. Nancy Wilson looked very beautiful and naughty from where I stood (maybe it was the Danger Danger show that got my mind dirty) and she proved to be very diversified constantly changing guitars and also playing mandolin. She really played great and the 2 Wilson sisters stole the show along with ex. Alice in Chains/Ozzy Osbourne bass player Mike Inez. The new guitar player and the female keyboard player seemed very anonymous on stage, but again the Wilson sisters personify Heart.
The band took a break and Ann Wilson told that they had to compress all their songs into the 75 minute-set. Nancy Wilson stayed on stage with an acoustic and Ann sang power ballad Alone only accompanied by an acoustic guitar. From there it was a tour of Heart's massive back catalogue with Dog and Butterfly, These Dreams, my favorite Wild Child and of course Barracuda.
Ann Wilsons vocals were very strong and very loud sound wise. Since Heart played in the daylight they never managed to create an atmosphere among the crowd. Somehow there was a distance between the band and the crowd. Since Ann Wilson earlier complained that they had to compress their songs into 75 minutes, I found it very oddly that both their encores were covers from Led Zeppelin's 1971 album, namely Black Dog and Misty Mountain Hop. I would definitely have preferred some Heart penned tunes. An okay concert from a great band, which never really invited or managed to get crowd to join the party.
Europe, Sweden Stage - Saturday June 12
After warm up by the little German bulldog UDO with his mixture of solo songs and old Accept stuff like Princess of The Dawn and Son of a Bitch, it was time for the return of Sweden's biggest hard rock band - Europe.
Europe has reformed in the classic "Final Countdown" line-up with Joey Tempest, John Norum, John Leven, Mic Michaeli and Ian Haugland.
Anyone who thought Europe was a wimpy band, had to swallow their words with a this setlist, which focused on Europe's heavy stuff from their early albums opening with Seven Doors Hotel followed by the title track from Wings of Tomorrow. Third track pleased all of us sappy Europe fans, since it was the first single from "Out of this World" Superstitious, which was performed full blast.
The band all looked good and sounded really great. I gained a lot of respect for Joey Tempest, whose vocals were strong and brilliant live. The old songs were positively great live, but when Europe played an acoustic version of Carrie everybody let out their inner Europe fan and screamed out their lungs to this great ballad. It was obvious that a lot of people wanted to hear the old mega hits.
The finale was a string of songs from "The Final Countdown" starting with the rocky Cherokee followed by a smashing version of Rock the Night. Europe then played a new song Start form the Dark from the up-coming album, which sounded like their earlier stuff prior to the "The Final Countdown" album with John Norum taking control on guitar. Of Course The final Countdown ended the show and Sweden Rock festival 2004.
The band was top professional and they proved to be skilled musicians. The only flaw was a boring drum solo from Ian Haugland. He moved a snare drum out on the center of the stage and he only played the snare drum accompanied by pre-recorded drums. Furthermore Europe totally neglected the "Prisoners in Paradise" album, which was an amazing album artistic, but not sales wise. In my opinion it's the best Europe album and even though John Norum isn't on that album I would have loved to hear a song from that album. The show went by really fast and that is a good indication that you had a great time. Welcome back, Europe!
Seven Doors Hotel
Wings Of Tomorrow
Superstitious
Time Has Come
Ready Or Not
Heart Of Stone
The King Will Return
Scream Of Anger
Sign Of The Times
Stormwind
Carrie
Open Your Heart
Let The Good Times Rock
Yesterdays News
Cherokee
Rock The Night
Start From The Dark
The Final Countdown.
Sweden Rock festival 2004 opened with the best performance by TNT and closed with the second best by Europe.
| You can click most pictures for a bigger version
Danger Danger
Europe
All pictures taken by Borg | Written by Michael
Saturday, July 10, 2004 |
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RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 | 
View Profile
Comments: 245 | | I can't believe Europe are *back*! It sounds like a superb concert, and I'm pleased to hear that they are embracing the "Wings of Tomorrow" album which is one of my favorite CDs ever. Just amazing, really enjoyed the report.
Posted by Alanna (Staff)
Tuesday, July 13, 2004 |
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| Comment by Angelo, From U.K. (Anonymous) - Sunday, July 18, 2004 | Great review on Europe im so glad they are back look forward to any more great reviews on Europe on Revelationz Magazine!!
Thanks From Angelo, U.K.
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| Comment by Albert (Anonymous) - Tuesday, August 3, 2004 | Thanks for the review, it's fantastic. I hope to see a Europe concert soon!
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| Comment by alberto (Anonymous) - Sunday, September 5, 2004 | amazin europeĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦ
i hope see you again in CHILEĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦĦ
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| Comment by Henk (Anonymous) - Sunday, September 12, 2004 | It's amazing to read something about Europe, who had a huge hit 'Final Countdown' in The Netherlands and performed live in Rotterdam, april 1989. One of the best rockbands I've seen to date. I hope to see them again, once in The Netherlands.
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| Comment by Stringer (Anonymous) - Monday, September 20, 2004 | Truly good news they are back. Music-wise one of the best bands ever... Real professionals! Rock on dudes!
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| Comment by Leo (Anonymous) - Monday, October 25, 2004 | I can't believe it Europe back on stage!!!!
I'm wondering if do they plan to come back to America.????
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| Comment by Anna Maria (Anonymous) - Friday, April 15, 2005 | Please cum to Dublin!
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| Comment by Andrew (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 22, 2005 | Complete this glorious line:
"Let's get..."
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| Comment by Steen (Staff) - Thursday, June 23, 2005 | 
View Profile
Comments: 518 | | "Let's get some chickenwings!"
Posted by Steen (Staff)
Thursday, June 23, 2005 |
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| Comment by Andrew (Anonymous) - Thursday, June 23, 2005 | The reply I was looking for was:
"...NAUGHTY NAUGHTY!"
But I forgot how obsessed with chicken wings you are... ha ah!
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| Comment by Steen (Staff) - Thursday, June 23, 2005 |
View Profile
Comments: 518 | | Haha, I thought you were looking something else, but I just couldn't help it. I crave those wings.
I'm sure Michael would have gotten it right though.
Posted by Steen (Staff)
Thursday, June 23, 2005 |
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| Comment by jay - EEUU (Anonymous) - Wednesday, November 30, 2005 | I've seen EUROPE live in Madrid and NYC and I must say that they were fuckintastic!!!!! They're awesome, I didn't like them too much, but since I saw them on stage I fell in love with that band.
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